Age, height, weight, and gender. Blood pressure is lower in infants compared with older children. Taller children usually have higher blood pressure than shorter children. Overweight or obese children are more likely to have high blood pressure. And boys usually have slightly higher blood pressure than girls.

Illness or medicines. This might be heart disease or kidney disease.

Diet. Salt, foods with high salt content (such as packaged meats), alcohol, drinks with caffeine (such as coffee and soda) can all raise blood pressure.

One high blood pressure reading does not mean that your child has high blood pressure. Your child's healthcare provider will want to check your child's blood pressure over a period of days or weeks. When blood pressure stays high, it may be a problem.

What causes high blood pressure in a child?

Blood pressure can be primary. This means the cause isn't known. Or it may be secondary. This means it happens with illness or certain lifestyle choices.

Secondary causes of high blood pressure in children and teens include:

Kidney disease and heart disease

Prescription medicine such as corticosteroids or birth control pills

Illegal drugs such as cocaine

Which children are at risk for high blood pressure?

Children and teens are more likely to have high blood pressure if they are:

Overweight

Have a family history of high blood pressure or heart disease

Are boys

Have a mother who smoked during pregnancy

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure in a child?

Usually, high blood pressure doesn't cause any symptoms. This is why it is often referred to as the silent killer. It is often found during a routine visit to a healthcare provider.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed in a child?

Your child's healthcare provider will diagnose high blood pressure by checking your child's blood pressure. The provider will check blood pressure over several days or weeks before making the diagnosis. Your child's healthcare provider will also:

Reliable blood pressure readings taken at home can be helpful in determining if your child truly has high blood pressure. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring uses a device that can be worn for 24 hours. It takes multiple blood pressure readings and can help get a more accurate reading of overall blood pressure.

Your child's provider may also order tests. These may include:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), to check your child's heart rhythm

Blood tests

Urine test

How is high blood pressure treated in a child?

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. If your child's healthcare provider has found a secondary cause, such as kidney disease, the disease will be treated. If the provider hasn't found a cause, treatment involves making lifestyle changes. These may include eating a heart-healthy diet that:

Has lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products

Is low in salt

Limits fatty and sweet foods

Other lifestyle changes may include:

Losing weight

Getting more exercise

Learning to manage emotions and stress

Quitting or staying away from smoking

Staying away from alcohol

Many children and teens are able to lower their blood pressure with lifestyle changes. But some children may need medicine.

What are the complications of high blood pressure in a child?

High blood pressure may damage the blood vessels and heart. This increases the risk for heart attack and stroke later in life.

What can I do to prevent high blood pressure in my child?

Not all high blood pressure can be prevented. But making heart-healthy lifestyle choices may lower the chance of developing high blood pressure. Help your child:

Keep a healthy weight

Eat a healthy diet

Be active every day

Stay away from smoking

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children and teens (older than 3 years of age) have blood pressure screenings at their yearly well-child visit. Blood pressure should be checked in all children and teens older than 3 years of age at every healthcare encounter if they are obese, are taking medicine known to increase blood pressure, have kidney disease, diabetes, or a history of aortic arch obstruction or coarctation. Normal blood pressure in kids depends on their gender, age, and height.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

If you have a family history of high blood pressure or heart disease, make sure your child's provider knows. And if your child is overweight, make sure you talk with his or her provider about ways to lose weight.

Key points about high blood pressure in children

High blood pressure means that the pressure inside the arteries is too high. This may harm the arteries and cause the heart to work harder.

High blood pressure often has no known cause. Some health conditions and medicines may cause high blood pressure.

Blood pressure changes. Your child's provider will check it over a period of days or weeks before making a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Lifestyle changes like weight loss, exercise, and healthy eating can help to lower high blood pressure.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:

Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.

Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.

At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child.

Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are.

Ask if your child’s condition can be treated in other ways.

Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.

Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.

If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.

Know how you can contact your child’s provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.

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